Search

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a promising natural orifice transluminal endoscopic procedure for the treatment of esophageal motility disorders, with similar effectiveness as of Heller myotomy. It is performed under general anesthesia in endoscopy suite. Creation of submucosal tunnel in the esophageal wall is a key component. The continuous insufflation of CO2 inadvertently tracks into surrounding tissues and leads to capno mediastinum, capno thorax, capno peritoneum, and subcutaneous emphysema. Thus, the challenges, for an anesthesiologist are not only providing remote location anesthesia, increased risk of aspiration during induction, but also early detection of these complications and specific emergency management. Though a therapeutic innovation, POEM remains an interdisciplinary challenge with no specific anesthesia care algorithms and evidence-based recommendations. The purpose of this review is to outline the anesthesia and periprocedural practices based on existing evidence.

The COVID-19 pandemic originated in China in December 2019 and has since then, swept across the world. The last Influenza pandemic of 1918 happened before the advent of modern medicine. We have come a long way since then. But the pandemic has still caught us unprepared in many quarters. The review focuses on the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients and the various challenges faced by intensivists.

Background and Aims: We aim to study the significance of intraoperative hyperlactatemia in reconstructive oncoplastic surgery. Material and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of patients who underwent reconstructive oncoplastic surgery with free flap for oral cancer over a 6-month period. The study population was divided into two groups based on peak lactate levels. Group N with peak lactate level less than 2 mmol/L and Group H peak lactate level more than 2 mmol/L. The various parameter studied were patient's comorbidities; intraoperative events (vasopressor requirement, blood transfusion, and duration of surgery); postoperative parameters including the need for re- exploration and duration of stay in hospital and intensive care unit. Results: The study demonstrates that intraoperative rise of lactate was not influenced by comorbidities. None of the intraoperative parameters studied influenced the lactate levels. Baseline lactate level was found to correlate with peak lactate level intraoperatively. But it was observed that there was normalization of lactate level within 24 hours postoperatively in both the groups. There was no difference in outcome parameters in the two groups. Conclusion: Intraoperative hyperlactatemia is not a significant prognostic factor for outcome in oncoplastic reconstructive surgery.

Background and Aims: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has multifactorial etiology. It is a commonly encountered morbidity after anesthesia specially following middle ear surgery. Various antiemetic medications have been tried with mixed responses. Palonosetron is a newer 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) receptor antagonist marketed for PONV prophylaxis. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of palonosetron and ondansetron in preventing PONV after middle ear surgeries. Material and Methods: One hundred patients of ASA class 1 or 2, aged 18 years and above, weighing between 40 and 90 kg scheduled for elective middle ear surgeries were randomly assigned into palonosetron group (n = 50) and ondansetron group (n = 50). Palonosetron was administered in dose of 1 mcg/kg maximum up to 75 mcg and ondansetron in dose of 0.1 mg/kg maximum up to 8 mg. Intraoperative monitoring of QTc interval was also done to see any significant change after the antiemetic administration. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, and side effects were recorded over 2, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. All parameters were compared between the two groups as mean ± standard deviation and as count (%). Two sided P values of

Newer developments in the field of chemotherapeutic drug regimes, radiotherapy, and surgical techniques have improved the prognosis of cancer patients tremendously. Today increasing numbers of patients with aggressive disease are posted for surgical resection. The advances in reconstructive flap surgery offer the patient a near normal dignified postresection life. Hence, the expectations from the patients are also on the rise. Anesthetic challenges known in oncosurgery are that of difficult airway, maintenance of hemodynamics and temperature during long surgical hours, pain management, and postoperative intensive care management. But, recently acquired data raised the possibility of the anesthetic technique and conduct of perioperative period as a possible contributory factor in the growth and possible recurrence of the primary tumor. The foundation of the concept is somewhat fragile and not supported by conclusive evidence. In fact, like any other controversial topic in medicine, contradictory reports of the favorable effects of anesthetic technique and medications are plenty in the literature. This is the basis of our article where we have analyzed the current evidence available in the literature and how these and the forthcoming large scale studies may revolutionize the practice of oncoanesthesia.

We present a child posted for magnetic resonance imaging of brain under general anesthesia with the rare combination of mucopolysachharidosis type VI and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The presence of both these disorders has important anesthetic implications. The pathophysiology of this rare combination of disease is reviewed with emphasis on the anesthesia management.

US Food and Drug Administration has recently approved transoral robotic surgery for the treatment of some benign tumors and selected malignant tumors of the head and neck. Robotically-assistance in ear, nose and throat surgery is established and will play an increasingly large role in the future of surgical practice. Anesthesiologists need to modify their management and familiarize themselves with the upcoming robotic procedures to ensure better patient outcomes and improve patient safety.

A 48-year-old man, with end stage renal disease and a history of recreational drug abuse, presented for elective cataract surgery. Patient underwent the procedure with a general endotracheal anesthesia with a balanced anesthetic. After an uneventful intra-operative period, he had a sudden onset large volume hemoptysis just prior to extubation. Poor oxygenation and hemodynamic instability necessitated emergent reintubation in the immediate post-extubation period. Emergent bronchoscopy did not show active airway bleeding or obstructive mucous plugs, and a diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was made. The patient was gradually weaned off the ventilator and made a slow recovery over a one - week period.

Pregabalin is a gamma-amino-butyric acid analog shown to be effective in several models of neuropathic pain, incisional injury, and inflammatory injury. In this review, the role of pregabalin in acute postoperative pain and in chronic pain syndromes has been discussed. Multimodal perioperative analgesia with the use of gabapentinoids has become common. Based on available evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis, the perioperative administration of pregabalin reduces opioid consumption and opioid-related adverse effects in the first 24 h following surgery. Postoperative pain intensity is however not consistently reduced by pregabalin. Adverse effects like visual disturbance, sedation, dizziness, and headache are associated with higher doses. The advantage of the perioperative use of pregabalin is so far limited to laparoscopic, gynecological, and daycare surgeries which are not very painful. The role of the perioperative administration of pregabalin in preventing chronic pain following surgery, its efficacy in more painful surgeries and surgeries done under regional anesthesia, and the optimal dosage and duration of perioperative pregabalin need to be studied. The efficacy of pregabalin in chronic pain conditions like painful diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, central neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia has been demonstrated.

Alkaptonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder of tyrosine metabolism characterized by a triad of homogentisic aciduria, ochronosis, and arthritis. The most common clinical manifestations of ochronosis involve the musculoskeletal, respiratory, airway, cardiovascular, genitourinary, cutaneous, and ocular systems. We report the perioperative anesthetic management of a 56-year-old alkaptonuric patient, with multiple comorbidities scheduled, for revision total hip replacement. A review of her medical history revealed alkaptonuria, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and Pott′s spine with disc prolapse. We want to highlight the need of thorough preoperative evaluation in patients of alkaptonuria, as it is associated with multiple comorbidities. The systemic involvement should determine the anesthetic plan. Caution should be exercised during positioning to prevent injury to the joints and the spine.

Blepharophimosis syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by eyelid malformation, involvement of reproductive system and abnormal facial morphology leading to difficult airway. We report a rare association of blepharophimosis syndrome and atrial septal defect in a 10-year-old girl who came for reconstruction surgery of eyelid. The child had dyspnea on exertion. Atrial septal defect was identified preoperatively by clinical examination and echocardiography. Anesthesia management was complicated by failure in laryngeal mask airway placement and Cobra perilaryngeal airway was subsequently used.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Postoperative residual curarization (PORC) and the impact of the coadministration of intravenous calcium along with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on it are not well addressed. Extensive electronic database screening was done until October 7, 2022 after enlisting the protocol of this systematic review in PROSPERO (CRD42021274879). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of intravenous calcium and neostigmine coadministration on neuromuscular recovery were included in this meta-analysis. Our search retrieved four RCTs with a total of 266 patients. The application of calcium shortened the neuromuscular recovery time (SMD = -2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.66 to -1.59, I 2 = 66%) and reduced the risk of PORC at 5 min (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.10-0.46, I 2 = 0%), with an improved train-of-four (TOF) ratio at 5 min (mean difference [MD] = 9.28, 95% CI: 4-14.57, I 2 = 66%). However, neither significant reduction in PORC at 10 min (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.15-1.09, I 2 = 0%) nor a better TOF ratio was associated with coadministration of calcium (MD = 0.40, 95% CI: -1.3-2.11). Coadministration of calcium along with neostigmine during the early period of neuromuscular blockade reversal can be used to enhance neuromuscular recovery., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a promising natural orifice transluminal endoscopic procedure for the treatment of esophageal motility disorders, with similar effectiveness as of Heller myotomy. It is performed under general anesthesia in endoscopy suite. Creation of submucosal tunnel in the esophageal wall is a key component. The continuous insufflation of CO 2 inadvertently tracks into surrounding tissues and leads to capno mediastinum, capno thorax, capno peritoneum, and subcutaneous emphysema. Thus, the challenges, for an anesthesiologist are not only providing remote location anesthesia, increased risk of aspiration during induction, but also early detection of these complications and specific emergency management. Though a therapeutic innovation, POEM remains an interdisciplinary challenge with no specific anesthesia care algorithms and evidence-based recommendations. The purpose of this review is to outline the anesthesia and periprocedural practices based on existing evidence., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology.)

The COVID-19 pandemic originated in China in December 2019 and has since then, swept across the world. The last Influenza pandemic of 1918 happened before the advent of modern medicine. We have come a long way since then. But the pandemic has still caught us unprepared in many quarters. The review focuses on the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients and the various challenges faced by intensivists., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology.)

Retroperitoneoscopic approach of nephrectomy in pediatric patients is a debatable issue from surgical point of view. Experience of anesthetic management of 15 such patients from a tertiary care teaching hospital has been described here. We found that capno-retroperitoneum increases end-tidal carbon-di-oxide, but normocapnea was achieved in the most of the patients. No significant hemodynamic changes were noted in any patients. However, subcutaneous emphysema was common, but self-limiting without any serious consequence. Postoperative pain after this procedure is usually manageable by nonopioid analgesics.

Pregabalin is a gamma-amino-butyric acid analog shown to be effective in several models of neuropathic pain, incisional injury, and inflammatory injury. In this review, the role of pregabalin in acute postoperative pain and in chronic pain syndromes has been discussed. Multimodal perioperative analgesia with the use of gabapentinoids has become common. Based on available evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis, the perioperative administration of pregabalin reduces opioid consumption and opioid-related adverse effects in the first 24 h following surgery. Postoperative pain intensity is however not consistently reduced by pregabalin. Adverse effects like visual disturbance, sedation, dizziness, and headache are associated with higher doses. The advantage of the perioperative use of pregabalin is so far limited to laparoscopic, gynecological, and daycare surgeries which are not very painful. The role of the perioperative administration of pregabalin in preventing chronic pain following surgery, its efficacy in more painful surgeries and surgeries done under regional anesthesia, and the optimal dosage and duration of perioperative pregabalin need to be studied. The efficacy of pregabalin in chronic pain conditions like painful diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, central neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia has been demonstrated.